Revelation 18:7 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

7 How much G3745 she hath glorified G1392 herself, G1438 and G2532 lived deliciously, G4763 so much G5118 torment G929 and G2532 sorrow G3997 give G1325 her: G846 for G3754 she saith G3004 in G1722 her G846 heart, G2588 I sit G2521 a queen, G938 and G2532 am G1510 no G3756 widow, G5503 and G2532 shall see G1492 no G3364 sorrow. G3997

Cross Reference

Isaiah 22:12-14 STRONG

And in that day H3117 did the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts H6635 call H7121 to weeping, H1065 and to mourning, H4553 and to baldness, H7144 and to girding H2296 with sackcloth: H8242 And behold joy H8342 and gladness, H8057 slaying H2026 oxen, H1241 and killing H7819 sheep, H6629 eating H398 flesh, H1320 and drinking H8354 wine: H3196 let us eat H398 and drink; H8354 for to morrow H4279 we shall die. H4191 And it was revealed H1540 in mine ears H241 by the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 Surely this iniquity H5771 shall not be purged H3722 from you till ye die, H4191 saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts. H6635

Isaiah 47:1-2 STRONG

Come down, H3381 and sit H3427 in the dust, H6083 O virgin H1330 daughter H1323 of Babylon, H894 sit H3427 on the ground: H776 there is no throne, H3678 O daughter H1323 of the Chaldeans: H3778 for thou shalt no more H3254 be called H7121 tender H7390 and delicate. H6028 Take H3947 the millstones, H7347 and grind H2912 meal: H7058 uncover H1540 thy locks, H6777 make bare H2834 the leg, H7640 uncover H1540 the thigh, H7785 pass over H5674 the rivers. H5104

Isaiah 47:7-9 STRONG

And thou saidst, H559 I shall be a lady H1404 for ever: H5769 so that thou didst not lay H7760 these things to thy heart, H3820 neither didst remember H2142 the latter end H319 of it. Therefore hear H8085 now this, thou that art given to pleasures, H5719 that dwellest H3427 carelessly, H983 that sayest H559 in thine heart, H3824 I am, and none else H657 beside me; I shall not sit H3427 as a widow, H490 neither shall I know H3045 the loss of children: H7908 But these two H8147 things shall come H935 to thee in a moment H7281 in one H259 day, H3117 the loss of children, H7908 and widowhood: H489 they shall come H935 upon thee in their perfection H8537 for the multitude H7230 of thy sorceries, H3785 and for the great H3966 abundance H6109 of thine enchantments. H2267

Ezekiel 28:2-10 STRONG

Son H1121 of man, H120 say H559 unto the prince H5057 of Tyrus, H6865 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Because thine heart H3820 is lifted up, H1361 and thou hast said, H559 I am a God, H410 I sit H3427 in the seat H4186 of God, H430 in the midst H3820 of the seas; H3220 yet thou art a man, H120 and not God, H410 though thou set H5414 thine heart H3820 as the heart H3820 of God: H430 Behold, thou art wiser H2450 than Daniel; H1840 there is no secret H5640 that they can hide H6004 from thee: With thy wisdom H2451 and with thine understanding H8394 thou hast gotten H6213 thee riches, H2428 and hast gotten H6213 gold H2091 and silver H3701 into thy treasures: H214 By thy great H7230 wisdom H2451 and by thy traffick H7404 hast thou increased H7235 thy riches, H2428 and thine heart H3824 is lifted up H1361 because of thy riches: H2428 Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Because thou hast set H5414 thine heart H3820 as the heart H3824 of God; H430 Behold, therefore I will bring H935 strangers H2114 upon thee, the terrible H6184 of the nations: H1471 and they shall draw H7324 their swords H2719 against the beauty H3308 of thy wisdom, H2451 and they shall defile H2490 thy brightness. H3314 They shall bring thee down H3381 to the pit, H7845 and thou shalt die H4191 the deaths H4463 of them that are slain H2491 in the midst H3820 of the seas. H3220 Wilt thou yet H559 say H559 before H6440 him that slayeth H2026 thee, I am God? H430 but thou shalt be a man, H120 and no God, H410 in the hand H3027 of him that slayeth H2490 thee. Thou shalt die H4191 the deaths H4194 of the uncircumcised H6189 by the hand H3027 of strangers: H2114 for I have spoken H1696 it, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069

2 Thessalonians 2:4-8 STRONG

Who G3588 opposeth G480 and G2532 exalteth G5229 himself above G1909 all G3956 that is called G3004 God, G2316 or G2228 that is worshipped; G4574 so G5620 that he G846 as G5613 God G2316 sitteth G2523 in G1519 the temple G3485 of God, G2316 shewing G584 himself G1438 that G3754 he is G2076 God. G2316 Remember ye G3421 not, G3756 that, G3754 when I was G5607 yet G2089 with G4314 you, G5209 I told G3004 you G5213 these things? G5023 And G2532 now G3568 ye know G1492 what withholdeth G2722 that G1519 he G846 might be revealed G601 in G1722 his G1438 time. G2540 For G1063 the mystery G3466 of iniquity G458 doth G1754 already G2235 work: G1754 only G3440 he who now G737 letteth G2722 will let, until G2193 he be taken G1096 out of G1537 the way. G3319 And G2532 then G5119 shall G601 that Wicked G459 be revealed, G601 whom G3739 the Lord G2962 shall consume G355 with the spirit G4151 of his G846 mouth, G4750 and G2532 shall destroy G2673 with the brightness G2015 of his G846 coming: G3952

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Revelation 18

Commentary on Revelation 18 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 18

We have here,

  • I. An angel proclaiming the fall of Babylon (v. 1, 2).
  • II. Assigning the reasons of her fall (v. 3).
  • III. Giving warning to all who belonged to God to come out of her (v. 4, 5), and to assist in her destruction (v. 6-8).
  • IV. The great lamentation made for her by those who had been large sharers in her sinful pleasures and profits (v. 9-19).
  • V. The great joy that there would be among others at the sight of her irrecoverable ruin (v. 20-24).

Rev 18:1-8

The downfall and destruction of Babylon form an event so fully determined in the counsels of God, and of such consequence to his interests and glory, that the visions and predictions concerning it are repeated.

  • 1. Here is another angel sent from heaven, attended with great power and lustre, v. 1. He had not only light in himself, to discern the truth of his own prediction, but to inform and enlighten the world about that great event; and not only light to discern it, but power to accomplish it.
  • 2. This angel publishes the fall of Babylon, as a thing already come to pass; and this he does with a mighty strong voice, that all might hear the cry, and might see how well this angel was pleased to be the messenger of such tidings. Here seems to be an allusion to the prediction of the fall of pagan Babylon (Isa. 21:9), where the word is repeated as it is here: has fallen, has fallen. Some have thought a double fall is hereby intended, first her apostasy, and then her ruin; and they think the words immediately following favour their opinion; She has become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird, v. 2. But this is also borrowed from Isa. 21:9, and seems to describe not so much her sin of entertaining idols (which are truly called devils) as her punishment, it being a common notion that unclean spirits, as well as ominous and hateful birds, used to haunt a city or house that lay in its ruins.
  • 3. The reason of this ruin is declared (v. 3); for, though God is not obliged to give any account of his matters, yet he is pleased to do so, especially in those dispensations of providence that are most awful and tremendous. The wickedness of Babylon had been very great; for she had not only forsaken the true God herself, and set up idols, but had with great art and industry drawn all sorts of men into the spiritual adultery, and by her wealth and luxury had retained them in her interest.
  • 4. Fair warning is given to all that expect mercy from God, that they should not only come out of her, but be assisting in her destruction, v. 4, 5. Here observe,
    • (1.) God may have a people even in Babylon, some who belong to the election of grace.
    • (2.) God's people shall be called out of Babylon, and called effectually.
    • (3.) Those that are resolved to partake with wicked men in their sins must receive of their plagues.
    • (4.) When the sins of a people reach up to heaven, the wrath of God will reach down to the earth.
    • (5.) Though private revenge is forbidden, yet God will have his people act under him, when called to it, in pulling down his and their inveterate and implacable enemies, v. 6.
    • (6.) God will proportion the punishment of sinners to the measure of their wickedness, pride, and security, v. 7.
    • (7.) When destruction comes on a people suddenly, the surprise is a great aggravation of their misery, v. 8.

Rev 18:9-24

Here we have,

  • I. A doleful lamentation made by Babylon's friends for her fall; and here observe,
    • 1. Who are the mourners, namely, those who had been bewitched by her fornication, those who had been sharers in her sensual pleasures, and those who had been gainers by her wealth and trade-the kings and the merchants of the earth: the kings of the earth, whom she had flattered into idolatry by allowing them to be arbitrary and tyrannical over their subjects, while they were obsequious to her; and the merchants, that is, those who trafficked with her for indulgences, pardons, dispensations, and preferments; these will mourn, because by this craft they got their wealth.
    • 2. What was the manner of their mourning.
      • (1.) They stood afar off, they durst not come nigh her. Even Babylon's friends will stand at a distance from her fall. Though they had been partakers with her in her sins, and in her sinful pleasures and profits, they were not willing to bear a share in her plagues.
      • (2.) They made a grievous outcry: Alas! alas! that great city, Babylon, that mighty city!
      • (3.) They wept, and cast dust upon their heads, v. 19. The pleasures of sin are but for a season, and they will end in dismal sorrow. All those who rejoice in the success of the church's enemies will share with them in their downfall; and those who have most indulged themselves in pride and pleasure are the least able to bear calamities; their sorrows will be as excessive as their pleasure and jollity were before.
    • 3. What was the cause of their mourning; not their sin, but their punishment. They did not lament their fall into idolatry, and luxury, and persecution, but their fall into ruin-the loss of their traffic and of their wealth and power. The spirit of antichrist is a worldly spirit, and their sorrow is a mere worldly sorrow; they did not lament for the anger of God, that had now fallen upon them, but for the loss of their outward comfort. We have a large schedule and inventory of the wealth and merchandise of this city, all which was suddenly lost (v. 12, 13), and lost irrecoverably (v. 14): All things which were dainty and goodly have departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The church of God may fall for a time, but she shall rise again; but the fall of Babylon will be an utter overthrow, like that of Sodom and Gomorrah. Godly sorrow is some support under affliction, but mere worldly sorrow adds to the calamity.
  • II. An account of the joy and triumph there was both in heaven and earth at the irrecoverable fall of Babylon: while her own people were bewailing her, the servants of God were called to rejoice over her, v. 20. Here observe,
    • 1. How universal this joy would be: heaven and earth, angels and saints, would join in it; that which is matter of rejoicing to the servants of God in this world is matter of rejoicing to the angels in heaven.
    • 2. How just and reasonable; and that,
      • (1.) Because the fall of Babylon was an act of God's vindictive justice. God was then avenging his people's cause. They had committed their cause to him to whom vengeance belongs, and now the year of recompence had come for the controversies of Zion; and, though they did not take pleasure in the miseries of any, yet they had reason to rejoice in the discoveries of the glorious justice of God.
      • (2.) Because it was an irrecoverable ruin. This enemy should never molest them any more, and of this they were assured by a remarkable token (v. 21): An angel from heaven took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus shall Babylon be thrown down with violence, and be found no more at all; the place shall be no longer habitable by man, no work shall be done there, no comfort enjoyed, no light seen there, but utter darkness and desolation, as the reward of her great wickedness, first in deceiving the nations with her sorceries, and secondly in destroying and murdering those whom she could not deceive,' v. 24. Such abominable sins deserved so great a ruin.